Inspire to Hire…
Stargaze Career Expo!

(Major) Anita Yengue, PEng, ing., MBA

MODERATOR

Anita Yengue is an Aerospace Engineer (AERE) Officer currently employed by the Canadian Armed Forces. Because she enjoys travelling, it’s unsurprising to friends and family that she takes pride in working closely with aircraft. Anita is a licensed Professional Engineer with an undergraduate degree in Electromechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Moncton. Proud to serve all Canadians, she considers Canada’s diversity a strength and a way to showcase our values, objectives, and goals on the world stage.

 Anita worked in the manufacturing industry as an Electronic Project Lead Engineer and a Project Manager before joining the military in 2012. She occupied several positions as an aerospace engineer, including aircraft maintenance officer and project management roles. During that time, she also taught in various technical colleges within the National Capital Region, which prompted her to tutor and work closely with underprivileged youth and refugees in her free time. 

RAdm|cam Jacques P. Olivier, CMM, MSM, CD

KEY SPEAKER

Rear Admiral Jacques P. Olivier joined the Canadian Forces in 1986 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (Kingston), with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering and as the recipient of the Navy League of Canada Prize. After completing initial training in Victoria, British Columbia and Plymouth, England, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1992 where he served in various ashore establishments and operational ships before his appointment as the marine systems engineering officer of the frigate HMCS HALIFAX from 1999-2001. He subsequently gained experience in complex program management while serving at the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa and as an exchange officer in the Royal Navy in Bristol, England.

A licensed Professional Engineer and certified Project Management Professional, Rear Admiral Olivier holds several post-graduate studies including Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, and a Master of Science in Engineering and Management from the University of Portsmouth, England. A graduate from the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff Programme, he also holds a Master of Defence Studies. He also holds the title of the first Black General in the history of the Canadian Armed Forces!

Edem Akan

KEY SPEAKER

Edem Akan is an enterprise transformation leader with over 25 years of experience across technology, transportation, and complex regulated environments. She currently serves at Porter Airlines, where she is part of the technology senior leadership team driving transformation in support of rapid growth, fleet expansion, and network scaling.

Her experience spans aviation, transit, rail, infrastructure, and utilities, including work with organizations such as Metrolinx, the Toronto Transit Commission, Enbridge Gas, Hydro One, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. She has led large-scale transformation programs, modernized enterprise platforms, and strengthened governance in complex, unionized, and publicly accountable environments, and has advised senior executives and boards across public, not-for-profit, and private sector organizations.

Edem began her career as a software developer in financial services and has grown into senior leadership roles, bringing together technical depth, strategic thinking, and transformation at scale.

She brings a global perspective shaped by work across North America, Europe, and Africa, and contributes through teaching and community involvement, supporting organizations focused on women, children, mental health, and communities requiring additional support.

She holds an MBA, PgMP, ICD.D, and a Bachelor of Commerce and Information Systems. Her executive education includes INSEAD, Maastricht School of Business, and Toulouse Business School, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation, and corporate social responsibility.